U.S. patent number 7,874,263 [Application Number 11/886,161] was granted by the patent office on 2011-01-25 for arrangement and method for milking a plurality of milking animals.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Delaval Holding AB. Invention is credited to Klaus Schulte.
United States Patent |
7,874,263 |
Schulte |
January 25, 2011 |
Arrangement and method for milking a plurality of milking
animals
Abstract
An arrangement for milking a plurality of milking animals
comprises an automated milking system (11) provided with a milking
robot (13) for automatically milking a milking animal; a milking
system (15) provided for batchwise milking of multiple milking
animals; an identification arrangement (19, 21) provided for
identifying each of the plurality of milking animals prior to being
milked; decision means (23) connected to the identification
arrangement for deciding, for each of the plurality of milking
animals, whether that milking animal should be milked by the
automated milking system or by the milking system for batchwise
milking; and means connected (25) to the decision means for guiding
each of the plurality of milking animals to the automated milking
system or to the milking system for batchwise milking depending on
the decision made for that milking animal.
Inventors: |
Schulte; Klaus (Molnbo,
SE) |
Assignee: |
Delaval Holding AB (Tumba,
SE)
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Family
ID: |
36991966 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/886,161 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2006 |
PCT
Filed: |
March 09, 2006 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/SE2006/000307 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
May 28, 2008 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2006/098678 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
September 21, 2006 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20080282985 A1 |
Nov 20, 2008 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 14, 2005 [SE] |
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0500571 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
119/14.02;
119/14.08; 119/14.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01J
5/007 (20130101); A01K 1/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01K
1/12 (20060101); A01J 5/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;119/14.02,14.03,14.08,14.18,14.01 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0 608 941 |
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Dec 1999 |
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EP |
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1 213 676 |
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Jun 2002 |
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EP |
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0 566 201 |
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Jul 2003 |
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EP |
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0 832 558 |
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Feb 2006 |
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EP |
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WO 03/000044 |
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Jan 2003 |
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WO |
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WO 2004/068940 |
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Aug 2004 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Swiatek; Rob
Assistant Examiner: Evans; Ebony
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Harness, Dickey & Pierce,
P.L.C.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An arrangement for milking a plurality of milking animals, the
arrangement comprising: an automated milking system configured to
automatically milk at least one of the milking animals, the
automated milking system including a milking robot configured to
automatically attach teat cups to teats of the at least one milking
animal; a milking system configured to batchwise milk at least two
of the milking animals simultaneously, the automated milking system
and the milking system for batchwise milking having different
operating characteristics; an identification device configured to
identify one of the milking animals prior to being milked; a
processor connected to the identification device, the processor
configured to determine whether the one milking animal should be
milked by the automated milking system or by the milking system for
batchwise milking; and a guiding device connected to the processor,
the guiding device configured to guide the one milking animal to
the automated milking system or to the milking system for batchwise
milking, depending on the determination by the processor for the
one milking animal.
2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured
to determine whether the one milking animal should be milked by the
automated milking system or by the milking system for batchwise
milking based on a property of milk produced by the one milking
animal.
3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured
to determine whether the one milking animal should be milked by the
automated milking system or by the milking system for batchwise
milking based on a quantity of milk produced by the one milking
animal.
4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured
to determine that the one milking animal should be milked by the
automated milking system if the one milking animal has previously
been milked by the milking system for batchwise milking and the
udder of the one milking animal was not emptied during the previous
milking.
5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein the automated milking system
is configured to complete milking of the udder of the one milking
animal not emptied during the previous milking.
6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured
to determine whether the one milking animal should be milked by the
automated milking system or by the milking system for batchwise
milking based on a quality parameter of milk produced by the one
milking animal.
7. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured
to determine that the one milking animal should be milked by the
automated milking system the one milking animal produces milk that
is of low quality, indicates that the particular milking animal is
ill, or is different from normal.
8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured
to determine whether the one milking animal should be milked by the
automated milking system or by the milking system for batchwise
milking based on a health condition of the one milking animal.
9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured
to determine that the one milking animal should be milked by the
automated milking system if the one milking animal needs to be
examined or treated.
10. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured
to determine whether the one milking animal should be milked by the
automated milking system or by the milking system for batchwise
milking based on a previously-entered user selection.
11. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured
to determine whether the one milking animal should be milked by the
automated milking system or by the milking system for batchwise
milking based on a condition of at least one of the automated
milking system and the milking system for batchwise milking.
12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the processor is
configured to determine that the one milking animal should be
milked by the automated milking system if the milking system for
batchwise milking is out of order or is to be shut off for service
or maintenance, the processor further configured to determine that
the one milking animal should be milked by the milking system for
batchwise milking if the automated milking system is out of order
or is shut off for service or maintenance.
13. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the automated milking
system includes milk quantity measuring equipment, milk quality
measuring equipment, animal health measuring equipment, animal
examining equipment, animal treatment equipment, and milk
redirection equipment.
14. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the milking system for
batchwise milking is configured to permit manual attachment of teat
cups to teats of the at least two milking animals to be milked by
the milking system for batchwise milking.
15. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the milking system for
batchwise milking includes devices configured to measure milk flow
from, and a quantity of milk produced by, each of the milking
animals milked by the milking system for batchwise milking.
16. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the milking system for
batchwise milking includes at least one of a rotary milking system,
a parallel milking system, a tandem milking system, and a
Herringbone milking system.
17. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the automated milking
system and the milking system for batchwise milking include an
animal exit leading to a loose house area provided for housing the
milking animals.
18. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the guiding device includes
a selection gate device.
19. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising: a gathering
area provided for gathering the milking animals prior to being
milked.
20. The arrangement of claim 19, wherein the processor is
configured to determine that the one milking animal should be
milked by the automated milking system if a number of the milking
animals in the gathering area is below a threshold value.
21. The arrangement of claim 19, wherein the gathering area
includes an animal entrance connected to a loose housing area for
housing the milking animals.
22. The arrangement of claim 19, wherein the milking animals are
animals entering the gathering area during a given time period.
23. The arrangement of claim 19, wherein the gathering area at
least one of an emergency exit, a fire escape, and a one-way exit
gate.
24. The arrangement of claim 19, wherein the gathering area
includes a device configured to supply water to the milking animals
in the gathering area.
25. The arrangement of claim 19, wherein the identification device
is configured to identify and count the milking animals entering
the gathering area.
26. The arrangement of claim 19, wherein the identification is
configured to identify the milking animals leaving the gathering
area.
27. The arrangement of claim 19, wherein the processor is
configured to run a milking decision algorithm on the one milking
animal that is to enter the gathering area or is in said gathering
area, and wherein the guiding device is configured to guide the one
milking animal to a loose housing area for housing the milking
animals, if the one milking animal is determined not to be
milked.
28. The arrangement of claim 27, wherein the guiding device is
configured to guide the one milking animal to the loose housing
area via the automated milking system.
29. The arrangement of claim 19, further comprising: a selection
gate device at an entrance of the gathering area.
30. The arrangement of claim 29, wherein the selection gate device
is arranged between the gathering area and the automated milking
system and the milking system for batchwise milking.
31. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising: a device
configured to supply at least one of water and solid feed to the
milking animals which have left the milking systems.
32. A method for milking a plurality of milking animals, the method
comprising: identifying one of the milking animals prior to being
milked; deciding, for the one milking animal, whether the one
milking animal should be milked by an automated milking system
configured to automatically milk at least one of the milking
animals or by a milking system configured to batchwise milk at
least two of the milking animals simultaneously, the automated
milking system including a milking robot configured to
automatically attach teat cups to teats of the at least one milking
animal; and guiding the one milking animal to the automated milking
system or to the milking system for batchwise milking based on the
deciding for the one milking animal.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the milking animals are
gathered in a gathering area prior to being milked.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to dairy farming, and more
specifically to an arrangement and a method, respectively, for
milking a plurality of milking animals.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A large variety of such arrangements and methods are generally
known in the art.
Fully automated milking systems provided with a milking robot for
automatically attaching teat cups to the teats of the milking
animals to be milked have been used during the last decade,
preferably at smaller to mid-sized dairy farms. Automated milking
systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,463,877; 6,357,387;
6,334,406; 6,237,530; 6,148,766; 6,044,793; 5,957,081, in U.S. Pat.
Application Publications Nos. 20030172876 A1; and 20030101939 A1,
as well as in references therein.
Batchwise milking arrangements such as parallel stall, rotary and
Herringbone parlors, on the other hand, have been used extensively
for a long time. They are used in dairy farms of all sizes.
Parallel stall configurations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,634,428; 5,285,746; and 5,000,119, rotary configurations are
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,817,312; 6,814,027; 6,802,280;
5,718,185; and 5,687,673, and Herringbone parlors are disclosed in
e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,718,185; 5,259,334; 4,508,059; and
4,362,127.
Further, patent applications have been filed on several aspects of
managing cows in large herds of livestock, see e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,019,061; and 5,950,562; International Patent Application
Publications Nos. 2004/068940 A1; and 03/000044 A1, and European
Patent Application Publications Nos. 1 213 676 A1; 0 832 558 A2; 0
608941 A1; and 0 566 201 A2.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
By using fully automated milking systems a flexible and highly
controlled and monitored animal management is obtained. Animals are
milked, fed and taken care of on an animal individual basis to
maximize milk production while good animal health is maintained.
Typically, milk quality measuring equipment is provided for
automatically analyzing the milk of an individual animal. Such
analysis may even be performed on a teat individual basis. Other
equipment may be provided for automatically sensing a condition,
e.g. health condition, of the animal, for automatically treating
the animal, or for automatically redirecting milk from the animal,
e.g. depending on the quality of the milk.
However, the systems are costly and has this far not been fully
adapted to large stocks of milking animals. For instance, it can be
difficult to find a particular animal, which for example has to be
examined or treated manually by the farmer. Besides, cow traffic
patterns may become complex and difficult to control and monitor at
large dairy farms.
Batchwise milking arrangements are highly cost efficient for large
stocks of milking animals, wherein the animals are milked in
groups. Typically, the animals in a group are milked and handled
identically. The arrangements are less flexible and automatic
animal individual treatments in the milking arrangements are
difficult, if at all possible, to perform.
A general object of the present invention is therefore to provide
an arrangement and a method for milking a plurality of milking
animals, which are not only highly efficient but also flexible and
can obtain a good overall control, monitoring, and treatment of the
milking animals on an animal individual basis.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such an
arrangement and such a method, which provide for high utilization
of the milking systems used.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide such an
arrangement and such a method, which are flexible, reliable, cost
efficient, and easy to implement.
These objects, among others, are according to the present invention
attained by the arrangement and the method as specified in the
appended independent patent claims.
The inventive milking arrangement comprises an automated milking
system provided with a milking robot; a batchwise milking system;
an identification arrangement provided for identifying each of the
milking animals prior to being milked; a decision part connected to
the identification device for deciding, for each of the milking
animals, whether that milking animal should be milked by the
automated milking system or by the batchwise milking system; and a
device such as a selective gate device connected to the decision
means for guiding each of the milking animals to the automated
milking system or to the batchwise milking system depending on the
decision made for that milking animal.
By batchwise milking system is here meant a milking system wherein
at least three animals are milked, preferably essentially
simultaneously, in a single milking session.
Typically, the milking arrangement is provided in a loose housing
area wherein the milking animals are allowed to walk about
freely.
A gathering area may be provided, wherein the milking animals are
gathered prior to being milked. The gathering of animals is
normally performed at given moments such as e.g. two or three times
a day, but may be performed more often or more rarely. The milking
arrangement may be combined with other kind of milking systems.
Even though the gathering may be performed automatically, it is
commonly performed manually.
Alternatively, the milking animals present themselves at the
identification arrangement on a voluntary basis, and are milked
after having been guided to either one of the milking systems.
Enticing means may be provided to entice the milking animals to
visit the milking systems.
In most cases, the greater part of the animals are milked in the
batchwise milking system, whereas a few particular animals are
milked in the automated milking system.
Such particular animals may be animals that have previously been
milked in the batchwise milking system, if it can be established
that the udders of these animals were not emptied or milked
completely during previous milkings. The automated milking system
milks in such a case the udders of these animals completely, i.e.
the udders are completely emptied.
Alternatively, or additionally, milking animals which are milked by
the automated milking system may be animals that have been
pre-selected, that produce low quantities of milk, that produce
milk of low quality, or that are ill. The automated milking system
may in such cases be arranged to automatically examine or treat the
animals while being milked, or to separate the animals for manual
inspection or treatment. In the latter instance the exit from the
automated milking system may lead to an enclosed area, wherein the
dairy farmer or a veterinarian will find the animals.
However, if the number of milking animals in the gathering area is
below a threshold value, all animals may be milked by the automated
milking system.
An advantage of the inventive milking arrangement is that it
comprises two separate milking systems. That is, if one of the
systems is out of order or is shut off for service or maintenance,
all milking animals in the gathering can be guided to the other
milking system.
The gathering area and/or collection area(s) at the exits of the
milking systems may be provided with devices for supplying fresh
water to animals in these areas.
Milking animals present in the gathering area that are not allowed
to be milked in the inventive milking arrangement may be guided out
from the arrangement either through the automated milking system or
through selection gates in the gathering area. Enticing means such
as supply of concentrated feed or fodder may be utilized to entice
these animals to leave the gathering area.
Alternatively, these animals are not allowed to enter the gathering
area. For instance a gate selection device provided with an animal
identification device may be provided at the entry of the gathering
area and animals identified as not allowed to be milked in the
milking arrangement may be guided elsewhere by the gate selection
device.
The milking arrangement of the present invention is particularly
well suited to be used in dairy farms housing a large number of
milking animals such as e.g. at least about 200 milking animals,
but it may be applicable also to smaller dairy farms housing e.g.
50-200 milking animals.
Further characteristics of the invention and advantages thereof,
will be evident from the following detailed description of
preferred embodiments of the present invention given hereinafter
and the accompanying FIG. 1, which is given by way of illustration
only, and thus, is not limitative of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates schematically, in a top view, an arrangement for
milking a plurality of milking animals according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates an arrangement for milking a plurality of
milking animals, e.g. cows. The arrangement, which preferably is
located in a loose housing area intended for a large number of
milking animals, comprises an automated milking system 11 and a
batchwise milking system 15.
The automated milking system 11 is provided for automatically
milking at least one milking animal at a time and comprises a
milking robot 13 for automatically attaching teat cups to the teats
of the milking animal. The automated milking system 11 comprises
automatic milk quantity measuring equipment, automatic milk quality
measuring equipment, automatic animal health or condition measuring
equipment, automatic animal examining equipment, automatic animal
treatment equipment, and/or automatic milk redirection means as is
known in the art.
It shall be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the
automated milking system may comprise more than one milking machine
so that more than one milking animal can be milked at a time. One
single milking robot may take care of the attachment of teat cups
to the teats of several milking animals that are milked essentially
simultaneously, or one milking robot may be provided for each
milking machine of the automated milking system 11. If the
automated milking system comprises more than one milking machine,
these milking machines are preferably independent apparatuses
capable of operating independently of one another.
The batchwise milking system 15 is provided for batchwise and
preferably essentially simultaneous milking of a plurality,
preferably a large number, of milking animals in a single milking
session. The system 15 may be any of a rotary milking system, a
parallel stall milking system, a tandem milking system, a
Herringbone milking system, or a combination thereof, and may have
e.g. 20-40 milking stalls or points.
Reference is made to the prior art milking systems cited in the
introductory part of this patent document, the contents of which
being hereby incorporated by reference.
The batchwise milking system 15 may be arranged for manual
attachment of teat cups to teats of milking animals to be milked by
the batchwise milking system 15, and may comprise devices for
measuring the milk flow from, or the quantity of milk produced by,
each of the milking animals milked by the batchwise milking system
15.
The automated milking system 11 and the batchwise milking system 15
are preferably capable of milking animals independently of one
another.
Each of the automated milking system 11 and the batchwise milking
system 15 for milking has a respective animal exit 11a, 15a leading
back to the loose house area.
The inventive arrangement for milking comprises further a gathering
area 17, an identification arrangement 19, 21, a decision part 23,
and a guiding device 25.
The milking animals are typically gathered in the gathering area
17, which is optional. The gathering area is preferably an enclosed
area provided with an entrance 17a, an emergency exit or fire
escape 17b, an optional one-way exit gate 17c, a feed supply device
17d, and an exit 17e.
Preferably, the milking animals are animals entering the gathering
area 17 e.g. through the entrance 17a during a given time
period.
The emergency exit or fire escape 17b is opened to let the animals
in the gathering area 17 out and back into the loose housing area
in case of emergency or fire.
The optional one-way exit 17c leading back to the loose housing
area is preferably an intelligent gate arrangement including an
animal identification device. Animals that present themselves at
the one-way exit 17c, are identified and allowed to leave the
gathering area 17 provided that they are identified as not being
allowed to be milked this time (see further details of the milking
decision algorithm below).
In principle, the emergency exit or fire escape 17b, and the
one-way exit 17c could be implemented as intelligent two-way gate
arrangements, where animals are not only allowed to leave the
gathering area 17 under certain conditions, but animals are also
allowed to enter the gathering area through these gate arrangements
after having been identified or counted.
The various exits, the milking system exits 11a, 15a, the emergency
exit or fire escape 17b, and the one-way exit 17c, may instead of
leading back to the loose housing area, lead to other areas,
enclosures, stables, or buildings.
The feed supply device 17d is provided for supplying fresh water to
animals in the gathering area 17 while waiting to be milked.
Devices may be provided to assure that the water has sufficient
quality and is of a sufficient amount. Regulation of water
temperature, automatic monitoring of the water quality, automatic
cleaning of the feed supply device 17d, and recordation of amounts
of water consumed by each of the milking animals may be
performed.
Animals that are to be milked are allowed to leave the gathering
area 17 through the exit 17e when the gathering is finished, e.g.
when the given time period has lapsed.
A further feed supply device may optionally be provided outside the
exits 11a, 15a from the milking systems 11, 15 for supplying water,
and optionally solid feed, to animals which have left the milking
systems 11, 15.
The identification arrangement 19, 21 is provided for identifying
each of the milking animals prior to being milked.
The arrangement 19, 21 comprises preferably one identification or
counting device 19 at the entrance 17a to the gathering area 17 for
identifying or counting each of the milking animals when entering
the gathering area 17. Further, the arrangement 19, 21 comprises an
identification device 21 at the exit 17e from the gathering area 17
for identifying each of the milking animals when leaving the
gathering area 17. The identification devices may be implemented in
any manner known per se by a person skilled in the art. Example
implementations are given in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,798,175 and
5,653,192, and in references therein, the contents of which being
hereby incorporated by reference.
The decision part 23 is connected to the identification arrangement
19, 21 for deciding, for each of the milking animals in the
gathering area 17 that should be milked, whether that milking
animal should be milked by the automated milking system 11 or by
the batchwise milking system 15. The decision part 23 is preferably
computer implemented, and may in fact be a subroutine or a computer
program of a larger computer program product implemented in a
central processing device for the overall control of the inventive
milking arrangement or the entire dairy farm.
The guiding device 25 is connected to the decision part 23 for
guiding each of the milking animals to be milked to the automated
milking system 11 or to the batchwise milking system 15 depending
on the decision made by the decision part 23 for that milking
animal. The guiding device 25 is arranged between the gathering
area 17 and the milking systems 11, 15, and may be implemented as
an intelligent selection gate arrangement in any manner known per
se by a person skilled in the art. Example implementations are
given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,284 and in International Patent
Application Publication No. 2004/068940, and in references therein,
the contents of which being hereby incorporated by reference.
The traffic flow of milking animals in the inventive milking
arrangement is indicated by arrows in FIG. 1. In normal operation
milking animals enter the gathering area 17 through its entrance
17a, are gathered in the gathering area 17 and are offered fresh
water, are identified when passing through the selection gate
arrangement 25, and are guided to either the automated milking
station or to the batchwise milking system 15. Finally, the milking
animals are leaving the arrangement through the exits 11a, 15a of
the milking systems 11, 15.
A milking decision algorithm may be implemented in the above
inventive arrangement for milking.
The decision part 23 connected for deciding is thus adapted to run
a milking decision algorithm on each milking animal that is present
in the gathering area 17 (or refer to a milking decision for each
milking animal taken by other entity). The guiding device 25 is
adapted to guide each milking animal that should not be milked out
from the inventive milking arrangement and preferably back to the
loose housing area. This may be achieved by means of guiding each
of the milking animals that should not be milked to the automated
milking system 11 and allowing them to pass through the automated
milking system 11 without being milked. These milking animals exit
the inventive milking arrangement through the exit 11a.
As described above, some of the milking animals not allowed to be
milked may leave the gathering area 17 through the one-way exit
17c.
Alternatively, the inventive milking arrangement comprises an
intelligent selection gate arrangement (not illustrated) at the
entrance 17a of the gathering area 17, which is connected to the
decision part 23. Milking animals that should not be milked may be
guided away from the gathering area 17 by this intelligent
selection gate arrangement at the entrance 17a of the gathering
area 17. In this manner only animals allowed to be milked are
allowed to enter the gathering area 17.
Still alternatively, the gathering area 17 is dispensed with, and
the milking animals that should be milked are allowed to directly
enter the guiding device 25 at 17e after having been identified by
the identification device 21. The milking animals may present
themselves at the guiding device 25 on a voluntary basis.
The decision part 23, which is adapted to decide, for each of the
milking animals that should be milked, whether that milking animal
should be milked by the automated milking system 11 or by the
batchwise milking system 15, may base the decision on a number of
different conditions.
For instance, the decision for each animal may be based on any of:
a property of milk produced by the milking animal, e.g. a quantity
or a quality of milk produced by the milking animal, a condition
such as a health condition or a nutritional condition of the
milking animal, a pre-selection, particularly a user entered
pre-selection, the progress of lactation of the milking animal
(where in the lactation curve the milking animal is), whether the
milking animal is in heat; the time period lapsed, or the number of
times milked, since the milking animal was lastly milked by either
one of the milking systems, e.g. the automated milking system
Normally, milking animals are guided to and milked by the batchwise
milking system. However, there may be several exceptions from
this.
The decision part 23 may be provided for deciding that a particular
milking animal should be milked by the automated milking system 11
provided that the particular milking animal has previously been
milked in the batchwise milking system 15, and it can be
established that the udder of the particular milking animal was not
emptied or milked completely during the previous milking. At the
following milking of that particular milking, the automated milking
system 11 is preferably arranged for milking the udder of the
animal completely, i.e. emptying all milk in the udder. This may be
performed on a teat individual basis, i.e. if the milking animal is
a cow a single udder quarter may be fully emptied (if the udder
quarter was not fully emptied in the previous milking).
Alternatively, or additionally, the decision part 23 may be
provided for deciding that a particular milking animal should be
milked by the automated milking system 11 provided that the
particular milking animal produces low quantities of milk or
produces milk of low quality, which may indicate that the
particular milking animal is ill, or produces milk that is
different from normal in any other manner. At the following milking
of that particular milking animal, the automated milking system 11
is preferably arranged for automatically examining the milk from
the animal, automatically treating the animal, and/or automatically
redirecting the milk from the animal to e.g. other milk collecting
recipient.
In some countries law regulations stipulate that particular milking
equipment has to be used for the milking of cows that has a notable
change in the composition or content of their milk. Thus, if the
batchwise milking system is normally used, the automated milking
system can be used for such milking animals.
Alternatively, or additionally, the decision part 23 may be
provided for deciding that a particular milking animal should be
milked by the automated milking system 11 provided that the
particular milking animal needs to be examined or treated. At the
following milking of that particular milking animal, the automated
milking system 11 is preferably arranged for automatically
examining or treating the milking animal. Alternatively, the dairy
farmer is alerted, and the automated milking system 11 is
optionally halted in order to allow the dairy farmer to see the
particular milking animal for manual inspection or treatment.
If the number of milking animals in the gathering area 17 is very
low, i.e. below a threshold value, the decision part 23 may decide
that all milking animals should be milked by the automated milking
system 11. This case may occur since some milking animals are
usually milked more often than others.
Further, it shall be appreciated that if one of the milking systems
11, 15 is out of order or is shut off for service or maintenance,
the decision part 23 may decide that all milking animals should be
guided to the other milking system. Hereby, milking capacity and
system security are increased.
Further, the decision part 23 may be provided for deciding, for
each of the milking animals, whether that milking animal should be
milked by the automated milking system 11 or by the batchwise
milking system 15 depending on other conditions of the automated
milking system 11 and/or of the batchwise milking system 15. Such
conditions may comprise vacuum levels of the milking systems, the
presence of milking meters, and their calibration, in the milking
systems, the presence and/or calibration of other equipment of the
milking systems, the presence of identification devices in the
milking systems, etc.
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